RS130 - Status so far - can I use it without issues?

ROSE Products RS130
#1

Hi ALL

I have now an RS150 and considerung to upgrade to an RS130.

The following is existing and working without issues:
I do rarely use the Rose Software and Apps and if, only for playing or demoing around. Normally I simply use Roon.
An external DAC (Soulution) is attached to the RS150 with USB and maybe I will buy a Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC.

Here are my quesitons:

  1. Will everything work the same way as it does now with Roon?
  2. Is the Mola Mola Tambaqui fully supported and working for I2S and/or USB connection?
  3. Fiber Optic USB - can I attach a USB DAC directly to the Fiber Optical USB? (According the product site, USB Fibre is only to be used for Storage or the HUB, therefore useless with a direct DAC connection, correct?)
  4. Are there open issues with the current FW regarding the way, I use the Rose as a Streamer?
    (I don’t have any issues with the RS150 with the latest OTS FW).

It’s difficult to lend an RS130 from a dealer nearby to test it all by myself.

Your answers based on your experience (even just partial ones) are very welcome.
Thanks
Adrian

#2

Why bother with a Tambaqui and not consider the latest flagship Rose RD160, good synergy for the RS130 ?

#3

The question is not about the DAC.

#4

May be but it concerns the DAC a lot, if you are thinking of may be buying a Tambaqui Dac and therefore asking about compatibility or connection issues with it…

#5

I want the Tambaqui due its sound quality (and my space is limited in the Rack).
I can integrate the DAC with also using my RS150.
But as I don’t need the built in DAC anway, I was considering of getting the 130, and use the 150 in a second setup. If I want a better DAC, the decision is made.

#6

Fine with me… You are the master !

#7

I was able to demo the RS150 for a month before deciding on the RS130. I use a Holo May KTE and the sound with USB connected via the Fiber RSA720 is to my ears the best option and a significant step up from the RS150 (my system, my ears). The latest firmware has added some instability where the connection between RS130 and DAC take a few reboots to stabalize. I’ve resorted to just leaving on both the DAC and RS130.

My advice:

  1. Plan to use the RSA720 if you want the best SQ over SFP
  2. Get an SFP Network Switch to leverage the SFP on the 130 for network connection
  3. Confirm that the Mola Mola works with the RS130 or get a DAC that does, I would have considered the RD160 had it been available then

Enjoy!

#8

HMANAZ,

Has anyone done a comprehensive review of the RD160?

StandardModel

#9

Try googling for it, here is a brief one I found → HiFi Rose's new DAC costs more than my entire hi-fi system, and I still want it | TechRadar

#10

HMANAZ,

Thanks but that isn’t a review, it’s a rewrite from the press release. The “reviewer” didn’t even have one in hand to test. I have looked, and the only review I can see is HiFi Huff and his “reviews” while emotional and entertaining aren’t very rigorous to say the least.

I’m looking more for a reviewer who actually has tested the DAC’s conversion quality and objectively compared it to its competition. Something like “New Record Day” or Erin’s reviews. What I’ve seen so far marvels at the display or the thickness of the case. What I’d like to know is whether the AKM chips that Rose is using (AK4499EX and AK4191) are implemented in any better way than any of the many other very much less expensive DACs (Eversolo or Topping for two) that use that same AKM chipset or OCXO clocks. Rose has multiple power supplies but so does the competition. If there’s no measurably better performance, that’s a lot of money for a pretty face.

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1 Like
#11

Agreed, I am on the lookout for that as well. I do enjoy HiFi Huff but we need more, I think we just need to wait, my dealer does not have one in store yet but I want to try it ASAP. Will let you know if I do. I can tell you that New Record Day was pretty impressed with the Holo May KTE, and this contributed to my taking the plunge.

I also just got the following discouraging note from Mofi re: the ticket I opened for my connectivity issue.

image
image2360Ă—800 59.9 KB

@ROSEHAN @ROSELOA

Can you please comment on this statement from Mofi?

#12

HMANZ,

I have written many times on this forum that HiFi Rose would benefit greatly from a US Distributor that took a reasonable margin for its services and actually provided support.

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#13

That’s where my questions point to. Will it work in my setup the same as my 150.
If not, no need to spend an extra 5K for a Streamer, that has issues.

#14

I have difficulties to understand, why I should buy a USB HUB, when only 1 DAC should be connected.
Now with the RD160, it makes sense - but for the Rest of the DAC not.
An additional Power Supply, Traffic runs over 2 cables - that does not meet my expectations.

My LAN is already optimised with a very good switch (fibre ready).

And with the Mola Mola, I could connect directly over Ethernet, and then the Rose wouldn’t even make any sense. I like the large display of the Rose, so that’s why I’m still searching.

And YES, I’m looking for that exact confirmation, that the Tambaqui is working fine with a RS130.

#15

About the RSA720 - It states on the product website, that this HUB is intended to work with USB Storage. I does not say anything else.

Here what’s written on the RS130 product site:
The adopted optical USB completely blocks digital noise transmitted from the STORAGE device.

and

When connected to a DAC, only pure sound source data is transmitted to the DAC, and all noise that may be induced from the transport to the DAC is fundamentally blocked.

Unfutunately theres nowhere stated, that the DAC need to support USB Fibre as well (like the RD160).

So from my understanding - the USB Fibre is only working with the HUB and Storage, or the RD160.

Conclusion - no benefit for other DAC with the USB Fibre.